25th March

Regent’s Park

I didn’t spend much time in the park yesterday and today there seemed to be the same species present as there has been over the past few days.

Meadow Pipit: 11 birds flew north in one’s and two’s.

Blackcap: three males were singing, from areas 14, 34 and 41.

Chiffchaff: I heard and saw at least 9 birds.

Reed Bunting: the male is still singing from within the Wetland Pen and I may have seen the back end of a female flying into the Cricket Pen.

Yesterday and today I spent the hours up to 10.00am at other sites one in Newport and then today watching one of my favourite birds. You may guess what it is from the photos below.

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Common Yellowthroat

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A crappy Red Kite photo

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This shot gives the impression of a stubby winged short tailed bird

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Did you guess what my favourite was? I think they are so graceful.

Comments

Marc Heath said…
My favourite bird too. Those shots are superb, excellently captured.
Pete Woodruff said…
Excellent Tony....Well done, and pleased you was successful in seeing both birds and obtaining some remarkable photographic records.
Marc

I wonder when their expansion will reach Kent?
castlehaven said…
Don't do yourself down on the Kite pictures! I spent a rather abortive early morning inthe park until frostbite caused me to lose four fingers and several toes - the freezing fog that rolled in at about 0730 didn't help! Some shiovering Chiffchaffs, two Blackcaps wondering why on earth they left Africa was about it.
birdman_euston said…
Funny, the North American bird that the European Robin most reminds me of (in dumpy form and feisty mannerisms, at least) is the Common Yellowthroat. The latter's favourite habitat is tangled deciduous shrubbery near water.
birdman_euston said…
Once again I didn't hear the Reed Bunting at daybreak in area 32 this morning but Dave found one singing in the reed bed SW of the boathouse cafe before 08.00 (I was there at 07.25 and didn't hear it).

Blackcap singing from thick ornamental shrubbery in area 42 near the open spaces, and another in area 10 (The Holme).

Chiffchaffs in areas 1 (near the boathouse this time - his current territory probably includes area 2 as well), 17 (the St Mary's Garden pond hillside near the singing Goldcrest), 31 and 40.

The last of the Gadwalls seem to have departed within the past week; several Shovelers still remain around Heron Island, area 8.
Cheers Birdman

It is good to know the numbers of the less common waterfowl. Has the Smew definitely gone?
birdman_euston said…
Tony

I suspect the first-year male Smew has *probably* departed *but* I've only identified it when *outside* the Long Bridge sanctuary. The last time I saw it in its (former, apparently) roosting location on the N side of Heron Island (area 8) was almost *two weeks ago* and it's been spotted by others many times since, so you can understand why I'm hedging my bets with my answer! I'll have a good look for it outside *and* inside the sanctuary tomorrow morning; I know you won't be reading this reply before then but for the record, how many female Smews are in the collection?